Mugabe sneaks out of Zimbabwe

By Thelma Chikwanha, Nkululeko Sibanda

HARARE – Confusion has gripped partners in the coalition circles following President Robert Mugabe’s decision to sneak out of the country without advising his cabinet colleagues on his intended destination and reasons for the trip.

Mugabe sneaked out of the country on Monday morning amid indications that he had for the eighth time this year, flown to Singapore, where some of his doctors are based, raising speculation around the 87-year-old’s health.

What has worsened the situation is that Mugabe travelled without his official delegation, while the state media which usually accompanies him, has not reported anything on the President’s trip.

In government, there had been deathly silence on Mugabe’s whereabouts with coalition partners expressing surprise that he could have flown to Singapore. The Daily News yesterday spoke to Mugabe’s officials and coalition partners in government who all seemed confused about Mugabe’s business in Singapore.

It is however known that Mugabe receives treatment in Singapore as confirmed earlier this year by his spokesperson George Charamba. Besides Charamba, United States officials have in the past claimed to have seen Mugabe checking into a clinic in Singapore as revealed by whistleblower website, WikiLeaks.

Mugabe also has a daughter, Bona who is studying in the same country. Charamba however, all but confirmed that his boss is in Singapore when contacted for comment yesterday. “I refer to your Monday paper, thanks,” was all Charamba could say in a text message response to the Daily News.

Zimbabwe’s top independent daily newspaper, the Daily News on Monday exclusively revealed that Mugabe had cancelled his trip to Geneva for a UN summit to urgently travel to Singapore amid fresh concerns around his health.

Jameson Timba, the minister of State in Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai’s office responsible for International Relations said yesterday they were in the dark about Mugabe’s whereabouts. “We have not been told where he went. We are in the dark,” said Timba.

MDC leader, Welshman Ncube also confirmed cabinet was not aware of Mugabe’s whereabouts and the business he had gone there for.

“President Mugabe was expected to have travelled to Geneva for a United Nations meeting. Apparently, he is not there. No-one in the cabinet is aware where he went and what meetings or business he is attending to there.

“His officials have not helped the situation either as they have not bothered to say where he is,” said Ncube. Cabinet was expected to sit yesterday but this did not materialise as Mugabe, who normally chairs the meeting was away. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper of UK published this week, Tsvangirai expressed concern about Mugabe’s health. He is quoted as saying:

“President Mugabe’s health is a national question, a national concern. Why? Because when you have a partner whose state of health is unpredictable, and that partner holds the key to the unity of the opponent, what is likely to be the outcome should he die is instability in the party, which leads to instability in the country.”

Fears abound that government business could be affected by Mugabe’s health problems. Early this month, Mugabe sneaked out of the country to Singapore and when he came back, claimed that he had visited his daughter Bona and dismissed reports that he was not well.

He said on his return from Singapore: “I go away for two days, resting, seeing my daughter and you think I have been nostalgic about having left home,” he said. Political analyst, Ibbo Mandaza said Mugabe’s absence from work had stalled progress on government programmes.

“Mugabe’s absence affects the running of government business. If the head of state and government is absent from work, government programmes are disrupted. Things in the country are so centralised that nothing moves if Mugabe is not there,” he said.

Whistle blower website, WikiLeaks, recently revealed that the octogenarian leader had been spotted at an oncologist office in Singapore where he was believed to be receiving treatment for cancer. An oncologist specialises in various types of cancer.

According to a cable originated by Joel Ehrendriech a US official, Mugabe visited Singapore in May and August 2008 for cancer treatment. Yet another cable suggested that Mugabe had visited a UN medical specialist about his medical problems.

“UN resident representative Victor Angelo on November 12 advised Ambassador Sullivan that Mugabe has consulted with a UN medical specialist about some of his medical problems.

According to Angelo, Mugabe’s ailments include periodic convulsions and stroke like episodes (perhaps eschemia) brought on by diabetes and a lipid disorder which affects the covering of the brain,” US political officer Win Dayton said.

Local doctors however say Mugabe’s illness is consistent with his advanced age. The frail 87-year-old also failed to attend the graduation ceremony at Chinhoyi and Bindura Universities last week but Charamba claimed that he had not been invited. Daily News